Bite-Sized: Week of June 26, 2023
Vespas, San Diego and our Zahn McClarnon podcast episode.
Before Jean considered getting a motorcycle, she’d talk about keeping her two-wheeled pursuits simpler and closer to home on a Vespa. As we approach the fifth anniversary of her earning an M1 class license – and trying four different motorcycles until a 2020 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster became THE ONE – Jean is the proud owner of a 2009 Vespa LX150, purchased from a sweet and gentle 76-year-old handyman named Kenny in Sacramento this past weekend.
“I had to close my mouth because my teeth were getting cold from smiling so big,” she said after a ride through the nearby Los Altos Hills yesterday.
Bombing down to San Diego
As I mentioned in last week’s Bite-Sized post, we’re in the home stretch with our preparations to tour France, Switzerland, Austria and Italy by motorcycle with pal Brian in August. We’re sorting out what to pack, what to wear, and how to best communicate as we navigate several major mountain passes. We rode two-up in the Sierra Nevada mountains last week, covering 460 miles in two days.
I won’t be sharing a full ride report this week because I’m riding the Quota to visit fellow Sunday Moto Club member and French pal Noel in San Diego. It’s ideal timing for a 1,000-mile solo trip to get the creative juices flowing for the second half of 2023.
Noel is also flying solo with his black Labrador Sangria as wife Sylvie is in France visiting family and friends for a month, so there’ll be plenty of middle-aged man trouble for us to get into. The weather forecast looks fairly mild (70s and 80s), and I changed out the Quota’s oil, gearbox and rear transmission fluids a few days ago. I love this bike!
Podcast #8 - Zahn McClarnon
On Wednesday we’re publishing our eighth Motorcycles Are Drugs podcast episode. Our guest is rider and actor Zahn McClarnon, a fellow 1966 baby who’s been busy in front of the camera. He digs Harleys and has ridden ‘most of the roads west of the Mississippi’, as he puts it. Henri and I were delighted to chat with a man who’s honed his craft, choosing iconic roles over a more than 30 year career. He’s best known for appearing in Longmire, Westworld, Reservation Dogs, and Dark Winds, which he also shares executive producer credit with George R.R. Martin and Robert Redford.
You’re gonna dig our conversation. Henri also asks each guest who their favorite musician is, then composes and records a 30-second theme song to be included as part of the intro. Zahn mentioned Neil Young, so tune in to see if H nailed it.
Additionally, for those of you who prefer listening to podcasts on YouTube over Spotify, iTunes, or Amazon Music, the Motorcycles Are Drugs YouTube channel is live and crankin’. Henri is a real pro stickler for quality and making things pop, so try it out.
Keep the rubber sound down and embrace summertime, everyone.
Love the bite-sized chunks of info! And congrats to Jean for finding The One!!